Electric snap-switch.



N. MARSHALL.

ELECTRIC SNAP SWITCH. APPLICATION FILED SEPT.21, 1909.

Patented Jan. 18, 1910.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

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-Fig. 6 shows an edge elevation.

.the bridge to the switch in UNITED STATES PATENT @FFTCE.

NORMAN MARSHALL, OF WEST NEW'TON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO THE ARROWELECTRIC COMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT. A CORPORATION OFCONNECTICUT.

ELECTRIC SN AP-SWITCI-I.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 18, 191%.

Application filed September 21, 1909. Serial No. 518,853.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Xommx i\.l.\ItSIL\LL, a citizen of the FnitedStates. residing at W-est'Newton, in the county of Middlesex and Stateof Massachusetts, have invented a. new and useful Improvement inElectric Snap-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the construction of the actuating mechanism ofan electric snap switch of the push button class. The object of theinvention is to provide a push button switch mechanism having partswhich are cheap to manufacture and assemble, which are sure andefficient in action, and which arest ong and durable in use.

Figure l of the accompanying drawings shows a side elevation of a pushbutton electric switch mechanisn'i which embodi s the invention. Fig. 2shows a side elevation of the mechanism with the movable conductingpoles omitted. Fig. 3 shows a similar view of the same with the parts inthe positions occupied when the actuating spring is under tension, and.just latch is moved to release the lock plate. Fig. :4. shows a view ofthe same with the parts in the positions taken just after the lock platehas been released and the movable parts have been thrown by theactuating spring. Fig. 5 shows an elevation of the side opposite to thatshown in Fig. 1. Fig. 7

before a,

shows a plan of the blank from which theframe is formed. Fig. 8 shows-aside and an edge view of one of the latches. Fig. 9 shows a side and anedge view of the rocker .plate to which the push buttons are at tached,and which is provided with the cams that release .the latches from thelock plate afterthe actuating spring has been placed under tension. edgeview of the lock plate.

The supporting frame illustrated is t'ormed of one piece of metal, whichis blanked and bent so as to provide a bridge I piece 1 having openings2 forthe push buttons and perforated ears 3 for attaching the receptacleand for securing the place it is to be used. Extending from the edges ofthe bridge are legs 4, one of which has feet 5, designed to engage thebottom of the receptacle and assist in supporting the. mechanism inplace Fig. 10 shows a side and an under tension. the other end 1 lug onthe latch, and so 5 therein. The legs of the frame haveperforations 6and extending through these perforations 'is a spindleT. Mounted on thespindle is a rocker plate 8, connected with opposite ends of which arethe shanks 9 of the push buttons 10. On the edge of each end of therocker plate is a cam surface 11, and bent from one edge of the rockerplate so as to extend parallel with the spindle is an arm 12. The end 13of this arm is turned up and is perforated for the passage of thespindle. Mounted on the spindle is a lock plate 14 provided with alocking notch 15. An arm 16 is bent from an edge of the lock plate so asto extend parallel with the arm that projects from the rocker plate. Theend 17 of this arm is turned up and is perforated for the passage of'thespindle. A spring 18 is coiled about the spindle. One end of the springis bent so as to project on one side of the rocker plate and lock platearms, and the other end of the spring is bent so as to project on theother side of these arms.

Mounted on the spindle but insulated therefrom, and connected with thelock plate so as to be insulated therefrom, but to move therewith, arethe conducting pole plates 19. Pivotally mounted on a stud 20 projectingfrom one side of the frame are a pair of latch plates 21. Each of theselatch plates has a detent end 22 adapted to engage an end of the lockingnotch 15 in the lock plate, an inwardly extending lug 23 that projectsinto the path of one of the earns 11 at the end of the rocker plate, andan outwardly project ing lug 24; for the engagement of an end of thespring 25. This spring is bent around the stud upon which the'latchesare pivoted,

and its ends made to press against and thrust apart the lugs whichproject from the upper ends of the latch plates in such manner as tocause the lower or detent ends of the latch plates to bear against theedge of the lock plate. hen the projecting push button is pressedinwardly, the rocker is rotated and the rocker arm engaging with an endof the actuating spring places the spring of the spring being held bythe lock plate arm until the cam at the end of the rocker plate oppositeto that end to which the push button being pressed is attached. engagesthe inwardly projecting movesthat latch that the detent end is, raisedout of the locking notch in the lock plate. Then the lock pl-ite,

being released, is thrown by the spring so as to snap the movableconducting poles.

The parts of this mechanism are simple to form, as they can be blankedand bent to shape by punches and dies. The throw is strong, for thespring is placed under consid erable tension before the lock plate isreleased; the movement is easy for there is practically no frictionuntil the cams engage the lugs that project from the latches, and atthat time the action is smooth, for the cams oscillate the latches veryeasily. As a result of the shape and engagement of the parts there iscomparatively little Wear, and no particular strain upon any of theparts, and the break is long because the throw of the poles isconsiderable.

The invention claimed is:

1. The combination in an electric snap switch, of a frame, a spindlesupported by the frame, a rocker mounted on the spindle, cams formed atthe ends of the rocker, a lock platehaving a locking notch, mounted onthe spindle, conducting poles connected to and movable with the lockplate, latches pivoted to the frame, said latches having detent endsadapted to engage the end walls of the look-- in notch in the edge ofthe lock plate and lugs adapted to be engaged by the cams at the ends ofthe rocker, a spring arranged to force the upper ends of the latchesapart and cause the detent ends to bear upon the edge of the lock plate,and an actuating spring i made tense by the movement of the rocker I andarranged to throw the lock plate when that plate is released by theengagement ofa cam at the end of the rocker with :1 lug projecting fromthe latch that is holding the lock plate. a l 2. In a snap switchmechanism, the combination of a trame, a spindle carried by the frame, arocker mounted on the spindle, l means for oscillating said rocker, camsl formed at the ends of said rocker, a lock plate mounted on thespindle, said lock plate l having a locking notch in one edge, conductling poles connected to and movable with the I lock plate, an actuatingspring mounted on l the spindle, said'spring being arranged to be madetense by the movement of the rocker is released, a pair of latchesmounted upon the same stud, said latches having detent ends adapted toengage the ends of the looking notch in the edge of the latch plate andlugs adapted to be engaged by the cams at the ends of the rocker, and tobe oscillated from the locking'notch in the lock plate, and a springengaging and holding the upper ends of thelatches apart.

NORMAN MARSHALL.

lVitnesses M. A. Man'rnns, E. A. DANIELS.

and to throw the latch plate when that plate for lifting the detent endsof the latches.

